Improvement in refrigerators



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. SCOTT. Refrigerator.

No. at entgad Dec. 16,1879.

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2 Sheets--Sheet 2. S. SCOTT. Refrigerator.

No. 222,604. Patented De.c.vl6, I879.

7/ Qhasa as Inn 51W SYLVESTER soor'r, on ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN REFRIGERATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,604, dated December 16, 1879 application filed July 18, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLvnsrnR Soorr, of the city of Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Show-Case Refrigerators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the preservation of perishable articles of food, especially when placed on exhibition, as in the market-place or other similar situations.

The object of this invention is to provide a refrigerator show case in which to preserve vegetables, fruits, and other perishable articles when exposed for sale on the street, in the market-place, or in other situations in which it may be found applicable.

This invention consists of a refrigerator show-case, of cabinet form, constructed in suitable compartments, fitted with glass fronts, doors, or lids, to expose to view the articles contained therein, and is fitted with ice-compartments and openings or flues for the circu' lation of air to equalize the temperature, prevent evaporation, and preserve the articles contained therein.

To this end I have designed and constructed the refrigerator cabinet-formed show-case represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an isometrical representation of a show-case refrigerator embodying my invention in a practical form, of which Fig. 2 is a central lengthwise vertical section on dotted line 00. Fig. 8 is an isometrical representation of my improved refrigerator show case with the outside covering in place, of which Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on dotted line 3 In the figures, the main outline of myimproved cabinet in some respects is of desk form, in which A represents the ends joined by the bottom B, back 0, shelves D and E, and front frame, F, filled with glass G.

H are pieces fixed to the lower portion of the main ends, crosswise thereof, having their forward-projectin g ends beveled in the pointed manner represented. A piece, I, joins their lower beveling portion. These parts, fixed to each other in any suitable manner, form the main outer walls of my improved show-case refrigerator.

0 are vertical transverse partitions, placed near the lengthwise center of the cabinet, separated sufficiently to produce a vertical flue, I), which extends from the frontto the rear of the case, and from the bottom upward into thenpper chamber. The shelves D and E are perforated between thevertical partitions, as at c, which practically extends the flue from the bottom into the upper chamber. This fine is designed as a descentflue, through which the cool' air will descend to the lower chamber, which will occur more particularly when ice is employed to lower the temperature of the contained air.

The vertical partitions forming the flue are opened on their under edge, as at c and e, to communicate with the compartments on each side of the flue, and are employed to permit the air from the flue to circulate through the compartments. The lower main division is separated into suitable compartments (represented atL) by means of vertical part-itionsf, which are fitted with openings g on both their lower and upper edges, employed to permit a free circulation of the air descending thecc'ntral flue. These compartments have inclined outward openings on the plane of theupper beveled portion-of the pointed projecting end pieces, and the open ings are provided with inclined lids M, fitted with glass fronts N, through which their contents may be seen. These inclined lids are hinged at their upper inner edges to open upward, which furnish a ready means of access to the contents of the compartments. These compartments are well adapted to contain the heavier vegetables, such as potatoes, turnips, or other heavy or bulky articles.

At h are represented vertical end flues,

" which connect with the several main divisions by means of suitable openings, the lower-end" openings of which, as at-i, communicate with the upper portion of the lower division, the

side openings 70 communicate with the upper portion of the central division, and theupperend openings at l communicate with the upper portion of the upper division. The central division, in this instance, is fitted with removable shelves m, the lower one of whichin each division is pcrforated near its outer end, as at n, and the upper ones are perforated near their inner ends, as at 0, to permita free circ ilation of the contained air through the compartments. On these shelves may be placed srich articles as it is desirable to'exhibit for sale, and to preserve in a fresh state. This central dimanner common in such work, and are in sections, hinged to open upward. These lids, in

connection with the glass-filled front frame,

permit the contents of this division to be seen from two sides of the case. The bottom, or a portion of the bottom, on one or both sides of the lengthwise center of this division are fitted with a corrugated surface, (represented at U,) designed to permit a free circulation of air, and, when ice is employed, to conduct the drippings therefrom to a suitable drip-tube.

At 12 is represented a drip-tube, opening at its upper end into the upper division, as at a",

and descending through the central vertical flue, having its outlet-opening at if under the refrigerator.

At V are represented blocks of ice placed in the upper division on the corrugated bottoms, from which the drippings will flow in the corrugations to the outlet-tube and be discharged under the refrigerators.

In the use of my improved show-case refrigerator the articles may be placed in the several divisions and compartments thereof, in cases, or in any suitable or convenient manner to best expose them to view when the doors and lids are closed, in which situation they will be practically excluded from the action of the atmosphere, which prevents evaporation and still permits the air contained in the cabinet to circulate freely through all the divisions aud compartments thereof in the following manner:

The cold air from theicc will descend through I the central vertical flue, and a portion thereof will pass into the center division through the openings communicating therewith, and will circulate through the several compartments therein, and as it becomes warmer will escape through the opening communicating with the vertical fines, to be returned to the-upper division in contact with the ice, to be cooled, and

In the exhibition and preservation of vegetables in my improved show-case refrigerator, ice may be employed when thought best, but will not, of necessity, be required for the purpose of preserving them in a fresh state a reasonable length of time, except during the heated term, as in ordinary temperatures vegetables will be well preserved in my improved show-case without its use. This I accomplish by exhibiting them under cover, practically excluding them from the direct action of the atmosphere to prevent evaporation, and by means of suitable fines to provide for the equalization of the temperature of the contained air throughout the cabinet.

In the foregoing I have represented and described a practical form of my improved showcase cabinet; but other forms in ay be employed, and the form may be varied to meet the requirements of different parties, and to adapt it to different situations, without departing from the gist of my invention,-so long as the main features of my invention as hereinbefore set forth are retained, which consist mainly in a compartment or compartments to receive the vegetables, fruits, or other articles, and provided with glass or transparent fronts, lids, doors, or walls, through which the contents may be seen, and so fitted as to practically exclude them from the direct action of the atmosphere, to prevent evaporation, and provide for the equalization of the temperature, with or without ice.

For the purpose of adapting my improved cabinet show-case to out-door purposes, I have provided removable lids W, all of which are fitted to engage the case by means of suitable hook-clasps u, adapted to engage studs 1;, or

other suitable device fixed to the-case, and are I provided with a hasp and staple, w, adapted to receive a suitable lock, which secures them all in place on the case to protect its contents.

I claim as my invention 1. In a refrigerator, the combination, with an ice-chamber located in the upper portion of the cabinet, and lower and intermediate compartments, of a central descending cold-air flue, provided with separate openings for dis charging 'air into both the lower and intermediate compartments, the latter provided at their opposite ends with openings to cause the airto take azigzag course through the series of intermediate compartments on its way to the icechamber, and side fines for conveying the upward current of warmer air to the ice receptacle or chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. In a show-case refrigerator, the combi nation, with the refrigerator proper, having glass fronts and separate chambers or compartments for ice, fruit, vegetables, &c., of the removable lids IV, substantially as set forth.

SYLVESTER SCOTT.

Vituesses J A0013 BEHEL, A. O. BEHEL. 

